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Who needs cash? Digital finance and income inequality

Author

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  • de Moraes, Claudio Oliveira
  • Roquete, Raphael Moses
  • Gawryszewski, Gustavo

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of access to digital and physical forms of finance on income inequality. The article develops a new measure of financial access that captures the relationship between digital finance and inequality, using a dynamic panel data analysis on 116 countries between 2001 and 2019. The results indicate that access to both financial institutions and digital access may reduce inequality, suggesting that they are complementary. We also find evidence suggesting that, in emerging economies, access to digital financial is more relevant than physical access.

Suggested Citation

  • de Moraes, Claudio Oliveira & Roquete, Raphael Moses & Gawryszewski, Gustavo, 2023. "Who needs cash? Digital finance and income inequality," The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 84-93.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:quaeco:v:91:y:2023:i:c:p:84-93
    DOI: 10.1016/j.qref.2023.07.005
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Zhe & Li, Xiaojing & Zhang, Jizhou & Xia, Xianli, 2024. "Does digital finance alleviate household consumption inequality? Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    2. Hao, Yunping & Zhang, Bing, 2024. "The impact of digital financial usage on resident’s income inequality in China: An empirical analysis based on CHFS data," Journal of Asian Economics, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    3. Ding, Guoxuan & Kang, Nier, 2024. "The impact of digital financial inclusion on China's regional disparities in the quality of economic development: Based on the relational data paradigm," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 629-651.
    4. Barra, Cristian & D’Aniello, Christian & Ruggiero, Nazzareno, 2024. "The effects of types of banks on financial access and income inequality in a heterogeneous sample: A quantile regression analysis," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).

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